Automatic centering reel for coil stock

ABSTRACT

An automatic centering reel for a coil of strip stock including a base, a support means on said base, a rotatable strip stock coil support member rotatably mounted on said support means, said strip stock coil support member being provided with a plurality of eccentrically mounted rotatable coil holding members, said coil holding members being arranged to permit a coil of strip stock to be mounted thereover, means for rotating the eccentrically mounted coil holding members to expand them into gripping engagement with the inner diameter of the coil for gripping the coil to support it during an unreeling operation, and brake means operatively connected to said coil support member for selective braking of the reel.

i United States Patent [191 Jenny 242/llO.l X

Bruns May 21, 1974 AUTOMATIC CENTERING REEL FOR COIL Primary Examiner-John W. Huckert STOCK Assistant ExaminerJohn M. Jillions 75] Inventor: Eilert F. Bruns, Birmingham, Mich. Memag' [73] Assignee: U.S. Industries, Inc., Detroit, Mich. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: 1970 An automatic centering reel for a coil of strip stock [21] Appl. No.: 7,806 including a base, a support means on said base, a rotatable strip stock coil support member rotatably mounted on said support means, said strip stock coil IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII g' i support member being provided with a plurality of ec- [58] i 77 81 centrically mounted rotatable coil holding members, 0 earc I I0 l d 2 said coil holding members being arranged to permit a coil of strip stock to be mounted thereover, means for rotating the eccentrically mounted coil holding mem- [56] References cued bers to expand them into gripping engagement with UNITED STATES PATENTS the inner diameter of the coil for gripping the coil to 2,797.880 7/I957 Miller ct a]. 242/110 support it during an unreeling operation, and brake l,428,l l9 9/l922 Rogers 242/ll().1 m an operatively onnected to said coil support Rayburn 2413/1104 X member for selective braking of the reel.

15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures FATENTEDHAY 21 m4 3, 8 1 1 6 38 11 NTO E/LERT BR 5 49M.W22 a ATTORNEYS Mwmmwm I974 3,811,638

saw a w 5 j v INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS PATENTEIJMAY211974 3,911,638

sum 5 ur s INVENTOR. E/LEHT FQBRUNS EM'WQZW ATTORNEYS AUTOMATIC CENTERING REEL FOR COIL STOCK SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to coil handling equipment, and more particularly, to a novel and improved automatic centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock to permit the strip stock to be uncoiled and fed into a processing machine such as a stamping machine.

Centering reels for coil strip stock have been provided heretofore, but they have incorporated certain disadvantages. For example, many of the prior art centering reels have the disadvantage of a limited inner'diameter range. That is, the centering reel does not have or is not capable of rotating supporting coils of wide varying inner diameters. A further disadvantage of the prior art centering reels is that many of them have a high power requirement. An example of a prior art centering reel incorporating the aforementioned disadvantages is the expanding link type reel. A further disadvantage of the prior art centering reels is that they incorporate complex structure inorder to provide the desired inner diameter range of use.

In view of the foregoing, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved automatic centering reel for rotatably supporting coils of strip stock and which reel overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art centering reels.

' It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic centering reel for a coil of strip stock which includes a base, a support means on said base, a strip stock coil support member rotatably mounted on said support means, said strip stock coil support member being provided with a plurality of eccentrically mounted rotatable coil holding members, said coil holding members being arranged to permit a coil of strip stock to be mounted thereover, means for rotating the eccentrically mounted coil holding members to expand them into gripping engagement with the inner diameter of the coil for gripping the coil to support it during an unreeling operation, and brake means operatively connected to said support member for selective braking of the reel. The means for rotating the eccentrically mounted coil holding members may include either manual or power means. The eccentrically mounted coil holding members comprise eccentrically mounted discs.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an automatic centering reel for a coil of strip stock which is simple and compact in construction, economical to manufacture and efficient in operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatic centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock which is adapted to rotatably support coils varying over a wide range of inner diameters, and which is further adapted to be operated with the minimum amount of input power.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front end elevational view of an automatic centering reel made in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention, taken along the line 1-1 of FIG. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view of the automatic centering reel structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 2-2 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged, front elevational 7 view of the automatic centering reel structure illustrated in FIG. 1, and with parts shown in section.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, side elevational view, similar to'FlG. 2 of the illustrated automatic centering reel embodying the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, with parts in section and parts removed, of a second illustrative automatic centering reel embodying the invention.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an illustrative power means adapted for use in the invention.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view, with parts in section and parts removed, of a third illustrative automatic centering reel embodying the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI- MENTS Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 generally designates a support base which includes a top wall 11 and a pair of integral end walls 12 and 13. It further includes the side walls 14 and 15 and a longitudinal central wall 16. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 10 further includes a pair of transverse internal walls 17 on one side of the longitudinal central wall 16 and a simi lar pair of transverse support walls 18 on the other side of the longitudinal central wall 16. The base 10 is adapted to be secured to a supporting surface by any suitable means. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 10 is provided with an integral lug 19 at each comer thereof which is adapted to receive a floor bolt 20 for securing the base 10 to a supporting surface such as a cement floor 21.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the centering reel of the present invention includes a support means comprising a vertically disposed I-beam 22 which is mounted on the base 10 and which extends upwardly therefrom at a position spaced inwardly from the front end of the base 10. The support means further includes a horizontal I-beam 23 which has its front end supported on the top of the I-beam 22 and its rear end supported on a vertical plate or standard 24. The I-beam 22 and the standard 24 are secured to the base 10 by any suitable means as by welding. The I-beam 23 is also suitably secured to the top ends of the I-beam 22 and the plate 24 by any suitable means as by welding.

As shown in FIG. 1, the support means is enclosed at the frontend by a front end plate 24 which is fixedly secured to the base 10 and the I-beam 22 by any suitable means as by welding. As shown in FIG. 2, the support means is enclosed at the rear end by a vertical plate 22. As shown in FIG. 1, the sides of the support means is enclosed by the upwardly and inwardly sloping side walls 27 and 28. The end wall 26 and the side walls 27 and 28 are fixed in place by any suitable means, as by welding to the base 10, to the I-beams 22 and 23, and to the standard 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the top surface 31 of the frame l-beam 23 has fixedly mounted thereon at the front and rear ends thereof a pair of spaced apart mounting plates 32 which are disposed in a transverse position.

The mounting plates 32 are supported under their outer ends by a plurality of vertically disposed bracket plates 33 which are secured as by welding to the plates 32 and the support means side walls 27 and 28. In FIG. 2 the mounting plates 32 are adapted to support and carry a pair of longitudinally spaced apart bearing blocks 34 which rotatably support a mounting shaft 35 and suitable bearings 36. As shown in FIG. 2, a brake means generally indicated by numeral 37 is mounted on the rear end of the shaft 35 for selective braking of the same. Any suitable brake may be used. Fixedly mounted on the front end of the shaft 35 is an annular member, generally indicated by the numeral 38, which may be termed a rotatable support member for the coil holding members 43, 44 and 45.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the coil support member 38 is adapted to have slidably mounted thereon, from the front side thereof, a roll or coil of strip stock generally indicated by the numeral 41. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the coil support member or arbor 38 is provided with three recesses 42 which are evenly spaced around the periphery thereof. The recesses 42 are open on the front side of the support member 38 and they are each adapted to receive one of the coil holding members or eccentric arms or discs 43, 44 and 45. Each of the eccentric arms or discs 43, 44 and 45, is fixed on the shafts 46, 47 and 48, respectively. The shafts 46, 47 and 48 are disposed with their rotational axes offset from the normal rotational axis of each of the discs 43, 44 and 45.

As shown in FIG. 2, the eccentric disc 43 has its shaft 46 supported at its rear end in a suitable bearing means such as a ball bearing means 50. The bearing means 50 is operatively mounted in a hole 49 which is formed in the arbor 38 adjacent the outer periphery thereof. The bearing 50 is secured against axial movement by a suitable releasable retainer ring 51. The front end of the disc shaft 46 is rotatably mounted in a second suitable bearing means, such as the ball bearing means 53 which is mounted in a circular hole 52 that is formed in the support plate 55, in a position aligned with the hole 49. The ball bearing means 53 is secured against axial movement by a suitable releasable retainer ring 54. The support plate 55 is fixedly secured to the front end of the support member 38 by any suitable means as by the socket head screws 56. It will be seen that the support plate 55 retains the eccentric discs 43, 44 and 45 in the support member 38.

The automatic centering reel of the present invention is provided with means for rotating the eccentric arms or discs 43, 44 and 45 into gripping engagement with the internal diameter 57 of the strip stock coil 41 and which includes the following described structure. As shown in FIG. 3, the gripping arm shafts 46, 47 and 48 have fixedly mounted thereon the sprockets 60, 62 and 64, respectively, which are secured in place by the keys 61, 63 and 65, respectively. A continuous chain 66 is mounted or threaded around the sprockets 60, 62 and 64, and a drive sprocket 67 which is secured by a key 68 to the output shaft 69 of a suitable speed reducer means generally indicated by the numeral 70 in FIGS. 2 and 4. The speed reducer means 70 is fixed in place on the mounting plate 55 by a plurality of socket head screws 74 which are threadably mounted in a plurality of circularly spaced apart bosses 73 formed on the outer surface of the support plate 55. As shown in FIG. 4, the outer end of the speed reducer output shaft 69 extends through an axial hole 75 formed through the support plate 55 and partially into a bore 76 in the arbor 38.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the support plate 55 is provided with peripherally spaced apart cut-outs or relief openings 77 and 78 which border on a plurality of radially outward extended mounting arms 79. Each of the mounting arms 79 slidably supports a coil keeper 80. Each of the coil keepers 80 is adapted to be secured in an adjusted position on its respective mounting arm 79 by any suitable means, as by a socket head screw 81. The coil keepers 80 are adapted to be slid inwardly and fixed in a position adjacent the reel 41 to guide the strip stock as it is unreeled from the reel 41. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the mounting arms 79 is provided with an axially outward guide finger 82 which has a downwardly and inwardly sloping outer face to assist in sliding a coil 41 onto the arbor 38. It will be seen that the support plate 55 carries three of the coil keepers or arms 80. As shown in FIG. 2 the arbor 38 also carries a mating coil keeper 83 for each of the coil keepers 80. Each of the coil keepers 83 is similarly secured in an adjustable manner on arbor 38 by any suitable means, as by a socket head screw 84.

As shown in FIG. 2 the speed reducer means 70 is provided with an input shaft 85 that is operatively secured to the output end of a suitable clutch generally indicated by the numeral 86. The speed reducer means 70. may be any suitable speed reducer. A suitable speed reducer adapted for use in the present invention is one available on the market from the Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America, Commerce Road, Carlstadt, New Jersey, and which is known as an SM- CYCLO DRIVE, model number 29Y-53Y. The clutch 86 may be of any suitable type. A clutch adapted to be used to carry out the desired clutch function is one available on the market and known as a Formsprag reverse-locking clutch model number 72A/ 1,000 and available from the Formsprag Company of 23,601 Hoover Road, Warren, Michigan. The last mentioned clutch is a sprag type which permits transmission of driving torque from an input to an output shaft in both directions of rotation, but which restrains any feedback torque of the driven load from rotating the output shaft in either direction. Operatively connected to-the input end of the clutch 86 is a shaft 87 which carries a manually operated handwheel 88.

In use, the handwheel 88 is rotated so as to bring the eccentric arms or discs 43, 44 and 45 to the inwardly disposed, broken line position shown in FIG. 3. The coil keepers 80 are removed. The coil stock 41 is then mounted on the arbor 38 and the coil keepers 80 replaced and secured in position. The handwheel 88 is then rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, so as to move the chain 66 in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 3 and to turn the eccentric discs 43, 44 and 45 in a counterclockwise direction so as to move them outwardly into a gripping and holding engagement with the inner diameter 57 of the coil 41. The coil 41 may be released by operating the last described mechanism in the reverse direction. The numeral 97 in FIGS. 1 and 3 indicates the expansion range of eccentric discs 43, 44 and 45.

FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the inven tion which is similar to the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, but wherein the brake means and the manually operated speed reduction means have been movedto different positions. In the embodiment of FIG. 5 the parts of the structure disclosed therein which are the same as the corresponding parts of the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 have been marked with the same reference numeral followed by the small letter a.

As shown in FIG. 5 the speed reducer means 70a is mounted on the rear end of a mounting sleeve shaft 35a. The mounting flange 89 of the speed reducer means 70a is secured by a plurality of screws 90 to a supporting annular member 91. The annular member 91 is integrally connected to a support plate 92 which is secured to the rear end of the shaft 35a by any suitable means, as by a suitable key.

The speed reducer output shaft 69a is operatively connected to one end of an intermediate shaft 94 by a suitable coupling 93. The intermediate shaft 94 extends through the sleeve shaft 35a and through a suitable aligned hole in the arbor 38a and is rotatably supported by any suitable bearing means, as by the bearings 95 and 96. The drive sprocket 67a is fixed on the intermediate shaft 94 at the front end of the'arbor 38a and it is adapted to drive the drive chain 66a. The brake means 37a is mounted at an intermediate point on sleeve shaft 35a. The second embodiment of FIG. 5 would be operated in the same manner as the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a power drive means for rotating the chain 66 which turns the eccentric coil holding members 43, 44 and 45 into gripping engagement with the coil 41. The numeral 100 indicates the output shaft of a suitable double reduction worm gear speed reducer generally indicated by the numeral 101. The shaft 100 would be fixed to a drive sprocket 6712 which would be identical to the sprocket 67. The speed reducer I01 may be of any suitable type, as for example a speed reducer available on the market from the Abart Gear and Machine Company, 4,834 West 16th Street, Chicago, Illinois and known as model type DW.

As shown in FIG. 6 the speed reducer 101 generally includes a housing 102 in which is rotatably mounted the shaft 100 that has fixed thereto a gear 103. The gear 103 meshes with and is driven by a worm 104 that is fixed to a shaft 105. Fixed on the shaft 105 is a second gear 106 that is meshed with and driven by a second worm 107 carried on an input shaft 108. The input shaft 108 is operatively connected by a suitable coupling 109 to the output shaft 110 of a suitable motor 111. The motor 111 may be any suitable electric or bydraulic drive motor. It will be seen that the motor 111 may be operated in the proper direction to move the eccentric coil holding members 43, 44 and 55 into operative or inoperative relation with the coil 41 carried on the arbor 38. The speed reducer 101 and the motor 111 would be attached by the screws 113 to a suitable supporting bracketll2 which would be secured by the screws 114 to the support plate 55b on the arbor 38.

FIG. 7 illustrates a third illustrative automatic centering reel embodying the invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the parts thereof which correspond to the parts of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 4, and 5 and 6 are marked with the same reference numerals followed by the small letter In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the speed reducer of FIG. 6 is shown as being operatively mounted to drive the sprocket 67c. The speed reducer is a suitable right 76 supported on a bracket ll2c and is secured thereto by screws 1131c.

The bracket 112C is secured by the screws 114C to the support plate 550. An intermediate shaft 94c extends through the sleeve shaft 350 and is supported by the bearings c and 960 in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG. 5. The left end of the intermediate shaft 940 is connected by the coupling 109C to the input shaft 1080 of the speed reducer 101C. The coupling 1090 may be a rigid coupling. The intermediate shaft 940 may be operated by a manually operated clutch mechanism such as illustrated in FIG. 5. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate shaft 940 is also adapted to be operated by a suitable air operated clutch generally indicated by the numeral 115 which is operatively secured to the right end of the intermediate shaft 940, as viewed in FIG. 7. A drive sprocket 116 is operatively connected to the air operated clutch 115 and is driven by a drive chain 117. The drive chain 117 is driven by a drive sprocket 118 which is secured to the output shaft of a suitable drive motor, generally indicated by the numeral 119, which is secured to the cement 21c by suitable screws as a. The motor 119 may be a suitable electric or hydraulic motor. The embodiment of FIG. 7 would be operated in the same manner as the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodimentsof the invention herein disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change.

What is claimed is:

l. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock comprising:

a. a support means;

b. a strip stock coil support member rotatably mounted on said support means;

c. a plurality of eccentrically mounted coil holding members rotatably mounted on said coil support member for rotation into gripping engagement with the inner diameter of a coil of strip stock for bolding it on the coil support member;

(1. means for rotating said coil holding members into gripping engagement with the inner diameter of a coil of strip stock;

e. said coil support member including:

I l. a shaft rotatably mounted on said support means; and, 2. an arbor carried on said shaft and rotatably supporting said coil holding members;

f. each of said coil holding members being fixed on a shaft which is disposed with its rotational axis offset from the normal rotational axis of the holding member;

g. each of said holding member shafts being rotatably mounted on said coil supporting member and being operatively connected to said means for rotating said coil holding member; and

h. said means for rotating saidcoil holding members includes:

1. a speed reducer means carried on said support member;

2. said speed reducer means being provided with an output shaft;

3. drive means operatively connecting said output shaft to each of said coil holding member shafts, and;

4. means for operating said speed reducer means.

2. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. said drive means for operatively connecting said speed reducer means to said coil holding member shafts includes:

1. a sprocket fixed on each of said coil holding member shafts;

2. a sprocket fixed on said output shaft of said speed reducer means; and,

3. a drive chain operatively connecting the sprocket on the speed reducer output shaft to the sprockets on said coil holding member shafts for rotating said coil holding member shafts.

3. A centering wheel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. said means for operating said speed reducer means includes:

1. a clutch means operatively connected to said speed reducer means for operating said speed reducer means; and,

2. means operatively connected to said clutch means for operating said clutch means and speed reducer means for selective rotation of said coil holding member shafts in a forward or reverse direction.

4. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 3, wherein:

a. said means for operating said clutch means comprises a manually operated means.

5. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 3, wherein:

a. said clutch means comprises a clutch which is adapted to transmit a driving torque in both directions of rotation but which restrains any feed-back torque of the driven load from rotating the clutch in either direction.

6. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. said speed reducer means comprises a double reduction worm gear speed reducer.

7. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 6, wherein:

a. said means for operating said double reduction worm gear speed reducer includes:

1. a power drive means; and,

2. clutch means operatively connecting said power drive means to said double reduction worm gear speed reducer.

8. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock comprising:

a. a support means;

b. a strip stock coil support member rotatably mounted on said support means;

c. a plurality of eccentrically mounted coil holding members rotatably mounted on said coil support member for rotation into gripping engagement with the inner diameter of a coil of strip stock for holding it on the coil support member;

d. means for rotating said coil holding members into gripping engagement with the inner diameter of a coil of strip stock;

0. said coil support member including:

l. a shaft rotatably mounted on said support means; and,

2. an arbor carried on said shaft and rotatably supporting said coil holding members;

f. said shaft being a sleeve shaft;

g. said coil support member being disposed on one end of said sleeve shaft, on one side of said support means; and,

h. said means for rotating said coil holding members including:

1. a speed reducer means carried on said sleeve shaft on a side opposite the side on which said coil support member is disposed;

2. said speed reducer means being provided with an output shaft;

3. an intermediate shaft being rotatably mounted through said sleeve shaft and said coil support member;

4. means operatively connecting one end of said intermediate shaft to the output shaft of said speed reducer means;

5. drive means operatively connecting the other end of said intermediate shaft to said coil holding member shafts; and,

6. means for operating said speed reducer means.

9. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 8, including:

a. brake means connected to said sleeve shaft for selective braking of said coil support member.

10. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 8, wherein:

a. said drive means operatively connecting the other end of said intermediate shaft to said coil holding member shafts includes:

1. a sprocket fixed on each of said coil holding member shafts;

2. a sprocket fixed on said other end of said intermediate shaft; and,

3. a drive chain operatively connecting the sprocket on the intermediate shaft to the sprockets on said coil holding member shafts for rotating said coil holding member shafts.

11. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 8, wherein said means for operating said speed reducer means comprises:

a. a clutch means; and,

b. a manually operated means.

12. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for operating said speed reducer means comprises;

a. a clutch means; and,

b. a power operated means.

13. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock comprising:

a. a support means;

b. a strip stock coil support member rotatably mounted on said support means;

0. a plurality of eccentrically mounted coil holding members rotatably mounted on said coil support member for rotation into gripping engagement with the inner diameter of a coil of strip stock for holding it on the coil support member;

d. means for rotating said coil holding members into gripping engagement with the inner diameter of a coil of strip stock;

e. said coil support member includes:

]. a sleeve shaft rotatably mounted on said support means; and

' g; said means for rotating porting said coil holding members;

means; J

includes: U I

1. an intermediate shaft rotatably mounted through id holding member f. said coil support member being'disposed on one end of said sleeve shaftonfone side of said support strip Stock as d fi d i l i B h i saidsleeve-shaft and said coil support member;

shaft and being provided with-an output shaft;

.and,

2. clutch means operatively connected to one end r l 20 I 5. drive means operativelyconnecting the output shaft of said speed reducer means to said coil holding member shafts.

14. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of a. said clutch means is an electrically operated clutch means. a 15. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 13, wherein:

a. said drive means operatively connecting the output shaft of said speed reducer means to said coil holding member shafts includes:

l. a sprocket fixed on each of saidcoil holding member shafts; I

2. a sprocket fixed on said speed reducer output shaft; and, 1 3. a drive chain operatively connecting the sprocket on said-speed reducer'output shaft to the sprockets on'said coil holding member shafts forrotating said coil holding member shafts.

22%33" "I I I 1 UNITED STATES PA'lEN'l ovmr.

' CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 811, 633 Dated May 21, I 1974 I Inveutortab Eilert. Bruns It; is-certifi ed that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line l7, "rotating" should be rotatably Column 4, line 16, after "outward" insert extended Column 5, line 6'7, delete "a suitable right 76".

Column 2, 1ir1e 59, "is" shauld be are Signed and sealed this 1st day of October 1974,

(SEAL) v Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock comprising: a. a support means; b. a strip stock coil support member rotatably mounted on said support means; c. a plurality of eccentrically mounted coil holding members rotatably mounted on said coil support member for rotation into gripping engagement with the inner diameter of a coil of strip stock for holding it on the coil support member; d. means for rotating said coil holding members into gripping engagement with the inner diameter of a coil of strip stock; e. said coil support member including:
 1. a shaft rotatably mounted on said support means; and,
 2. an arbor carried on said shaft and rotatably supporting said coil holding members; f. each of said coil holding members being fixed on a shaft which is disposed with its rotational axis offset from the normal rotational axis of the holding member; g. each of said holding member shafts being rotatably mounted on said coil supporting member and being operatively connected to said means for rotating said coil holding member; and h. said means for rotating said coil holding members includes:
 1. a speed reducer means carried on said support member;
 2. said speed reducer means being provided with an output shaft;
 3. drive means operatively connecting said output shaft to each of said coil holding member shafts, and;
 4. means for operating said speed reducer means.
 2. a sprocket fixed on said speed reducer output shaft; and,
 2. an arbor carried on said shaft and rotatably supporting said coil holding members; f. said coil support member being disposed on one end of said sleeve shaft on one side of said support means; g. said means for rotating said coil holding member includes:
 2. clutch means operatively connected to one end of said intermediate shaft;
 2. a sprocket fixed on said other end of said intermediate shaft; and,
 2. said speed reducer means being provided with an output shaft;
 2. an arbor carried on said shaft and rotatably supporting said coil holding members; f. said shaft being a sleeve shaft; g. said coil support member being disposed on one end of said sleeve shaft, on one side of said support means; and, h. said means for rotating said coil holding members including:
 2. clutch means operatively connecting said power drive means to said double reduction worm gear speed reducer.
 2. means operatively connected to said clutch means for operating said clutch means and speed reducer means for selective rotation of said coil holding member shafts in a forward or reverse direction.
 2. a sprocket fixed on said output shaft of said speed reducer means; and,
 2. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. said drive means for operatively connecting said speed reducer means to said coil holding member shafts includes:
 2. said speed reducer means being provided with an output shaft;
 2. an arbor carried on said shaft and rotatably supporting said coil holding members; f. each of said coil holding members being fixed on a shaft which is disposed with its rotational axis offset from the normal rotational axis of the holding member; g. each of said holding member shafts being rotatably mounted on said coil supporting member and being operatively connected to said means for rotating said coil holding member; and h. said means for rotating said coil holding members includes:
 3. drive means operatively connecting said output shaft to each of said coil holding member shafts, and;
 3. A centering wheel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. said means for operating said speed reducer means includes:
 3. a drive chain operatively connecting the sprocket on the speed reducer output shaft to the sprockets on said coil holding member shafts for rotating said coil holding member shafts.
 3. an intermediate shaft being rotatably mounted through said sleeve shaft and said coil support member;
 3. means operatively connected to said clutch means for rotating said intermediate shaft through said clutch means;
 3. a drive chain operatively connecting the sprocket on said speed reducer output shaft to the sprockets on said coil holding member shafts for rotating said coil holding member shafts.
 3. a drive chain operatively connecting the sprocket on the intermediate shaft to the sprockets on said coil holding member shafts for rotating said coil holding member shafts.
 4. a speed reducer means carried on said support member and having an input shaft operatively connected to the other end of said intermediate shaft anD being provided with an output shaft; and,
 4. means operatively connecting one end of said intermediate shaft to the output shaft of said speed reducer means;
 4. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 3, wherein: a. said means for operating said clutch means comprises a manually operated means.
 4. means for operating said speed reducer means.
 5. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 3, wherein: a. said clutch means comprises a clutch which is adapted to transmit a driving torque in both directions of rotation but which restrains any feed-back torque of the driven load from rotating the clutch in either direction.
 5. drive means operatively connecting the other end of said intermediate shaft to said coil holding member shafts; and,
 5. drive means operatively connecting the output shaft of said speed reducer means to said coil holding member shafts.
 6. means for operating said speed reducer means.
 6. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. said speed reducer means comprises a double reduction worm gear speed reducer.
 7. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 6, wherein: a. said means for operating said double reduction worm gear speed reducer includes:
 8. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock comprising: a. a support means; b. a strip stock coil support member rotatably mounted on saiD support means; c. a plurality of eccentrically mounted coil holding members rotatably mounted on said coil support member for rotation into gripping engagement with the inner diameter of a coil of strip stock for holding it on the coil support member; d. means for rotating said coil holding members into gripping engagement with the inner diameter of a coil of strip stock; e. said coil support member including:
 9. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 8, including: a. brake means connected to said sleeve shaft for selective braking of said coil support member.
 10. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 8, wherein: a. said drive means operatively connecting the other end of said intermediate shaft to said coil holding member shafts includes:
 11. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 8, wherein said means for operating said speed reducer means comprises: a. a clutch means; and, b. a manually operated means.
 12. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for operating said speed reducer means comprises; a. a clutch means; and, b. a power operated means.
 13. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock comprising: a. a support means; b. a strip stock coil support member rotatably mounted on said support means; c. a plurality of eccentrically mounted coil holding members rotatably mounted on said coil support member for rotation into gripping engagement with the inner diameter of a coil of strip stock for holding it on the coil support member; d. means for rotating said coil holding members into gripping engagement with the inner diameter of a coil of strip stock; e. said coil support member includes:
 14. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 13, wherein: a. said clutch means is an electrically operated clutch means.
 15. A centering reel for rotatably supporting a coil of strip stock as defined in claim 13, wherein: a. said drive means operatively connecting the output shaft of said speed reducer means to said coil holding member shafts includes: 